Ross Raihala on music 2012

President Barack Obama presents rock legend Bob Dylan with a Medal of Freedom, Tuesday, May 29, 2012, during a ceremony at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Bob Dylan's career turned 50

Minnesota's own Bob Dylan celebrated his 71st birthday this year as well as the 50th anniversary of his self-titled debut album for Columbia Records. If that wasn't enough, President Barack Obama awarded Dylan the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor.

At the ceremony, Obama said of Dylan: "There is not a bigger giant in the history of American music." Dylan went on to release his excellent 35th album, "Tempest," and surprised locals by actually playing one of its songs at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center in November, during his first Twin Cities performance in four years. As longtime fans know, it usually takes years for Dylan's fresh material to make it into his set lists.

Rhymesayers rules

Since its inception in 1995, Minneapolis hip-hop label Rhymesayers Entertainment has turned heads here and around the country, thanks in large part to the works of rapper Sean "Slug" Daley, his producer, Anthony "Ant" Davis, and their work together as Atmosphere. For the first time since 2004, though, Rhymesayers didn't release any new Atmosphere music, with its ever-growing roster stepping up to the plate. High-profile San Francisco rapper Aesop Rock issued his first record for the label, and two local giants recorded what sound like career-defining albums: P.O.S.

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, pictured at left, ("We Don't Even Live Here") and Brother Ali ("Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color").

Polica's banner year

It was a terrific first year for local electronic rock act Polica, with the group earning almost instant buzz in the Cities and around the country. The group filled First Avenue for their Valentine's Day CD-release show, landed a prime spot in St. Paul's inaugural River's Edge Music Festival in June, signed a deal with buzzy New York indie label Mom + Pop and played both "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." They even saw their single "Wandering Star" get a terrific country-rock makeover via the new local duo Fathom Lane, whose own debut album, "Down by Half," is one of this year's keepers.

Mark Mallman's latest "Marathon"

Local piano man Mark Mallman is well-known for his wildly entertaining live shows, and this year he staged his most ambitious performance to date, dubbed "Marathon 4: Road Rogue." Part performance art, part ground-breaking technological marvel, the "concert" lasted the entire length of a road trip from New York to Los Angeles. He performed live on the Internet from the back of a 1997 GMC van outfitted with a crew of three, five cameras and a do-it-yourself technological suite that included a $300 brain-wave reader. When Mallman slept, the machines translated his thoughts into music. It earned him nationwide press coverage, from USA Today to Wired, and gave him the opportunity to perform in unexpected places along the way, like the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Neb., and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit. It also gave his latest album, "Double Silhouette," some much-deserved attention.

The X's week to remember

Even though the NHL lockout has kept the Xcel Energy Center dark in these chilly months, the arena found huge success in November, during a week that saw three of the most iconic musicians to emerge from the '60s (Bob Dylan), '70s (Bruce Springsteen) and '80s (Madonna) grace its stage. With a volleyball tournament tucked in there as well, the X drew more than 100,000 visitors over a 10-day period, while giving Twin Cities folks a Dylan concert with a surprise (see above), the Material Girl's first local gigs in 25 years and another memorably rousing pair of shows from the Boss. The venue also has some big hitters booked for the new year, including Lady Gaga (Feb. 6), George Strait (Feb. 15), Maroon 5 (March 4), Bon Jovi (April 7) and Taylor Swift (Sept. 7-8).

In 2013: Even more outdoor summer concerts

First Avenue plans to launch its own outdoor festival this summer, giving local music (and fresh air) fans yet another option in a calendar already packed with 89.3 The Current and the Walker Art Center's Rock the Garden, Rhymesayers' own Soundset, Cities 97's Basilica Block Party, the long-running Twin Cities Jazz Festival and the newcomer of the bunch, St. Paul's River's Edge Music Festival.